EP0576388A1 - Interrupteur de freinage multicircuit autoajustable - Google Patents

Interrupteur de freinage multicircuit autoajustable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0576388A1
EP0576388A1 EP93630028A EP93630028A EP0576388A1 EP 0576388 A1 EP0576388 A1 EP 0576388A1 EP 93630028 A EP93630028 A EP 93630028A EP 93630028 A EP93630028 A EP 93630028A EP 0576388 A1 EP0576388 A1 EP 0576388A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
brake pedal
spring
blade
plunger
automotive brake
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93630028A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0576388B1 (fr
Inventor
James P. Meagher
Benjamin F. Chestnut
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Emerson Electric Co
Original Assignee
Emerson Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Emerson Electric Co filed Critical Emerson Electric Co
Publication of EP0576388A1 publication Critical patent/EP0576388A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0576388B1 publication Critical patent/EP0576388B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/24—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting
    • H01H1/26—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with resilient mounting with spring blade support
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/14—Operating parts, e.g. push-button
    • H01H13/18—Operating parts, e.g. push-button adapted for actuation at a limit or other predetermined position in the path of a body, the relative movement of switch and body being primarily for a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. door switch, limit switch, floor-levelling switch of a lift
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
    • H01H1/021—Composite material
    • H01H1/023—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/58—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals
    • H01H1/5866—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals characterised by the use of a plug and socket connector

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a self-adjusting automotive brake pedal actuated switch assembly.
  • Automotive brake pedal actuated switch assemblies are widely used to control a variety of automotive functions when a brake pedal is depressed such as: energizing brake lights, deactivating a cruise control, signaling an anti-lock brake system, signaling a torque converter clutch, and signaling a transmission shift interlock.
  • a brake pedal actuated switch assembly that does not require adjustment; has multiple circuits; and, provides the switching options of contacts that open or close when the brake pedal is depressed, mechanical (rather than spring beam pressure) contact breaking, switch sequencing, and wiping or non-wiping contact.
  • the self-adjusting multicircuit automotive brake pedal actuated switch assembly comprises: a housing, a mounting means integral to the housing, a plurality of switches enclosed in the housing, and a spring biased plunger with integral switch activation arms selectively engaging the plurality of switches.
  • FIG. 1 is a view of the invention in a spring biased position.
  • FIG. 2 is another view of the invention in the spring biased position.
  • FIG. 3 is a view of the invention in a depressed position.
  • FIG. 4 is another view of the invention in the depressed position.
  • FIG. 5 is view of a housing base mounting means bushing.
  • FIG. 6 is an exterior view of a housing cover.
  • FIG. 7 is an exterior view of a housing base.
  • FIG. 8 is an interior view of the housing cover.
  • FIG. 9 is a side-view of the assembled invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a view of a plunger.
  • FIG. 11 is another view of the plunger.
  • the self-adjusting multi-circuit brake switch 10 includes a housing 12, a mounting means 14, a plurality of switches 16, and a plunger 18.
  • the housing 12 is molded from a CELEANESE N-276 material and includes a housing base 20, and a housing cover 22 (FIG. 6).
  • the housing base 20 has terminal slots 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 that serve to fix the plurality of switches 16 in the housing base 20.
  • Stationary blade mounts 36 and 40 and stationary blade wiping mount 38 in the housing base 20 also provide a means to fix the plurality of switches 16 in the housing base 20.
  • a plunger head recess 42, housing plunger head journal 44, a housing plunger rear journal 46, and a housing plunger spring recess 48 cooperate to provide axial displacement of the plunger 18 in the housing base 20.
  • the housing base 20 has five female barb connectors 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 for use in aligning and attaching the housing cover 22 (FIG. 7).
  • the housing base 20 has a screw hole 60 (FIG. 1) to provide an additional means for attaching the housing cover 22 (FIG. 6) to the housing base 20 to better secure the plurality of switches 16.
  • the housing base 20 also has a female terminal socket base 62 which forms a portion of the female terminal socket 64 (FIG. 9).
  • the female terminal socket 64 is a PACKARD ELECTRIC METRI-PACK 480 series standard automotive female connector.
  • the housing cover 22 is aligned on the housing base 20 for assembly by housing base 20 pins 66 and 68 that fit in housing cover 22 pin holes 70 and 72 respectively.
  • the housing cover 22 also has terminal retention bars 74 and 76, attachment screw hole 78, and anti-warp bars 80.
  • the housing cover 22 is further aligned and attached to the housing base 20 by five male barbed connectors 82, 84, 86, 88, and 90 that engage housing base's 20 five female barbed connectors 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 respectively.
  • the exterior of the housing cover 22 (FIG. 6) is smooth to prevent interference with other automobile components.
  • the housing cover 22 has a cover screw hole 78 that aligns with housing base 20 screw hole 60 to provide an additional means for attaching the housing cover 22 to the housing base 20 to better secure the plurality of switches 16.
  • the housing cover 22 also has a female terminal socket cover 94 that along with female terminal socket base 62 forms female terminal socket 64 (FIG. 9).
  • the mounting means 14 includes pedal pin hole 96, and pedal pin slot 98 for attaching the self-adjusting multicircuit automotive brake switch 10 to an automobile brake pedal 178 (FIG. 1).
  • the mounting means 14 includes bushing 100 integral to the housing base 20 to serve as a bearing for movement of the self-adjusting multicircuit brake switch 10 when a brake pedal 178 (FIG. 1) is depressed.
  • the plurality of switches 16 includes stationary blades 102, 106, 112; spring blades 104, 108, 110; integral terminals 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124; alignment nubs 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136; stationary blade electrical contacts 138, 142, 148; and, spring blade electrical contacts 140, 144, 146.
  • Stationary blades 102, 106, and 112 are manufactured from a copper alloy with good stiffness properties.
  • Spring blades 104, 108, and 110 are manufactured from a copper alloy with good spring properties to be biased closing the plurality of switches 16.
  • Integral terminals 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, and 124 fit in terminal slots 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 respectively.
  • Spring blade integral terminals 116, 120, and 122 are made by folding over the copper alloy material to create spring blade integral terminals 116, 120, and 122 that are twice as thick as spring blades 104, 108, and 110.
  • Spring blade integral terminals 116, 120, and 122 are more rigid due to their double thickness and approximately the same thickness as stationary blades 102, 106, and 112. The double thickness and increased rigidity of spring blade integral terminals 116, 120 and 122 improve their ability to mate with a female connector.
  • Alignment nubs 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, and 136 that are integral to terminals 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, and 124 respectively align the terminals and prevent them from moving axially.
  • Electrical contacts 140 and 144 are silver plated copper rivets that are riveted to spring blades 104 and 108 respectively.
  • Electrical contacts 138, 142, and 148 are also silver plated copper rivets that are riveted to stationary blades 102, 106, and 112 respectively.
  • Electrical contact 146 is a silver-copper-nickel alloy contact that is riveted to spring blade 110 to provide decreased pitting for high current applications such as brake lamps. Current flow is from contact 146 to contact 148, so the normal transfer of metal that occurs in high current applications will transfer some of the noble metal of contact 146, a silver-copper-nickel alloy, to the less noble metal of contact 148, a silver plated copper.
  • Stationary blade mounts 36 and 40 along with stationary blade terminal mounts 24 and 34, fix stationary blades 102 and 112 in the housing base 20.
  • Stationary blade wiping mount 38 is sized wider than stationary blade mounts 36 and 40 and also wider than the thickness of stationary blade 106, to permit movement of stationary blade 106 when pressure is applied or released.
  • Stationary blade 106 is biased toward stationary blade wiping mount rearward edge 151, but when the plunger 18 is in the spring biased position (FIGS. 1 and 2) the plunger 18 applies pressure to spring blade 108 which in turn applies pressure to stationary blade 106 forcing it against stationary blade wiping mount forward edge 150.
  • any or all stationary blades 102, 106, and 112 can be configured to provide a wiping action when the plunger 18 is depressed causing spring blades 104, 108, and 110 to make or break contact with stationary blades 102, 106, and 112.
  • the spring biased plunger 18 includes a plunger head 152, a plunger head bearing 154, a plunger body 156, a plunger extension stop 157, a plunger rear bearing 158, a plunger spring housing 160; a plunger spring 162 including a stationary spring end 164 and a plunger spring end 166; and, plunger head switch activation arm 168, plunger middle switch activation arm 170, and plunger rear switch activation arm 172 (FIGS. 10 and 11).
  • the plunger 18 is made from a glass-filled polyester which is softer than the housing's 12 CELEANESE N-276 material to provide ease of movement.
  • the plunger head 152 fits within the housing plunger head recess 42 which provides clearance for the plunger 18 to axially displace.
  • the plunger head bearing 154 fits within the housing plunger head journal 44, and the plunger rear bearing 158 fits within the housing plunger rear journal 46 to provide for low friction, stabilized axial displacement.
  • the plunger body 156 contains the plunger spring end 166, and the plunger spring stationary end 164 fits within the housing base spring recess 48.
  • the installed plunger spring 162 provides a 4.5 to 7.5 pound (20.02 to 33.35 Newton) load biasing force.
  • plunger head switch activation arm 168, middle switch activation arm 170, and rear switch activation arm 172 move spring blades 104, 108, and 110 respectively when the plunger 18 is axially displaced.
  • Plunger head switch activation arm 168, middle switch activation arm 170, and rear switch activation arm 172 have a convex surface 174 that contacts spring blades 104, 108, and 110 respectively.
  • the convex surface 174 provides for ease of manufacturing molded parts, a bearing surface for slippage when spring blades 104, 108, and 110 are displaced, and allows spring blades 104 and 108 to flex when pressure is applied by the plunger head switch activation arm 168 and middle switch activation arm 170 to decrease stress on spring blades 104 and 108.
  • Plunger rear switch activation arm 172 has a tab 176 to increase the effective force that rear switch activation arm 172 can provide to spring blade 110 to break contacts 146 and 148 when the plunger 18 returns to its biased position.
  • the plunger spring 162 provides a force of 4.5 to 7.5 pounds (20.02 to 33.35 Newtons) that is applied to spring blade 110 to break any contact weld that has formed between contacts 146 and 148 when the operator releases pressure from the brake pedal.
  • Plunger head switch activation arm 168 and middle switch activation arm 170 are biased closed positioned to apply pressure to spring blades 104 and 108 respectively when the plunger 18 is depressed to break electrical contacts 138 and 140 and electrical contacts 142 and 144 respectively.
  • Plunger 18 rear switch activation arm 172 is biased open positioned to release pressure from spring blade 110 when the plunger 18 is depressed to make electrical contacts 146 and 148.
  • plunger head switch activation arm 168, middle switch activation arm 170, and rear switch activation arm 172 can be individually positioned when manufactured to either make or break spring blade 104, 108, and 110 electrical contact when the plunger 18 is depressed. Additionally when manufactured, plunger head switch activation arm 168, middle switch activation arm 170, and rear switch activation arm 172 can be positioned to provide switch sequencing and can be micro-adjusted to compensate for manufacturing component variations. Compensation adjustments to the plunger head switch activation arm 168, middle switch activation arm 170, and rear switch activation arm 172 reduce production costs because the only one part can be adjusted to bring many other components into tolerance.
  • the self-adjusting multicircuit brake switch 10 is shown installed on an automobile brake pedal 178.
  • the self-adjusting multicircuit brake switch 10 can either be mounted on an brake pedal 178 installed in an automobile or on a separate brake pedal assembly which is then installed in the automobile.
  • mounting the assembled self-adjusting multicircuit brake switch 10 is accomplished by first positioning the housing cover 22 mounting slot 98 over the master cylinder push rod 182 and the brake pedal push pin 180, so the master cylinder push rod is sandwiched between the mounting means 14 of the housing cover 22 and the housing base 20. Next, the self-adjusting automotive brake switch 10 is moved toward the brake pedal 178, so the brake pedal pin 180 passes through the housing base bushing 100.
  • the self-adjusting multicircuit automotive brake switch 10 with the master cylinder push rod 182 sandwiched in between the mounting means 14 of the housing cover mounting slot 98 and the housing base bushing 100, is positioned on the brake pedal pin 180 and a locking clip or other locking device is attached to the end of the brake pedal push pin 180 to secure the self-adjusting multicircuit brake switch 10 in place.
  • the plunger 18 in the spring biased position, the plunger 18 is extended.
  • the extension is limited by the plunger's extension stop 157 which contacts the housing 20.
  • the extended plunger 18 serves to bias the brake pedal pin 180 to the rearward side of the master cylinder push rod brake pedal mounting hole 184. Since the master cylinder push rod brake pedal mounting hole 184 is sized larger than the brake pedal push pin's 180 diameter a biased clearance 186 of approximately .050 inch (1.27 millimeters) is created.
  • the plunger head switch activation arm 168 does not apply pressure to spring blade 104, so electrical contacts 138 and 140 are closed creating an electrical circuit.
  • the plunger middle switch activation arm 170 also does not apply pressure to spring blade 108, so electrical contacts 142 and 144 are closed creating an electrical circuit. Since the full spring force of spring blade 108 is being applied to stationary blade 106, stationary blade 106 is held in its depressed, unbiased position 150.
  • plunger rear switch activation arm 172 applies pressure to spring blade 110, so electrical contacts 146 and 148 are held open, preventing an electrical circuit. It is a feature of this invention that plunger middle switch activation arm 170 can be configured like the plunger rear switch activation arm 172 to hold electrical contacts open when the plunger 18 is in its spring biased position.
  • the multicircuit self-adjusting automotive brake switch is shown in the depressed position.
  • the brake pedal push pin 180 moves forward.
  • the biased clearance 186 must be taken up before the brake pedal push pin 180 contacts the master cylinder push rod 182. It is during the taking up of this biased clearance 186 that the plunger 18 is depressed.
  • the biased clearance 186 is slightly less than the distance the plunger 18 is designed to displace. Since the brake pedal push pin 180 contacts master cylinder push rod 182 prior to completely depressing the plunger 18, once the biased clearance 186 is taken up, the actual braking force is applied to the master cylinder push rod 182 and not the plunger 18.
  • the plunger head switch activation arm 168 applies pressure to spring blade 104, to open electrical contacts 138 and 140, opening an electrical circuit.
  • the plunger middle switch activation arm 170 also applies pressure to spring blade 108, to open electrical contacts 144 and 142, opening an electrical circuit. Additionally with electrical contacts 144 and 142 open, spring blade 108 is no longer applying pressure to the stationary blade 106.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Braking Elements And Transmission Devices (AREA)
EP93630028A 1992-06-24 1993-03-25 Interrupteur de freinage multicircuit autoajustable Expired - Lifetime EP0576388B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US903155 1978-05-05
US07/903,155 US5241144A (en) 1992-06-24 1992-06-24 Self-adjusting multicircuit brake switch

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0576388A1 true EP0576388A1 (fr) 1993-12-29
EP0576388B1 EP0576388B1 (fr) 1996-07-10

Family

ID=25417026

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93630028A Expired - Lifetime EP0576388B1 (fr) 1992-06-24 1993-03-25 Interrupteur de freinage multicircuit autoajustable

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5241144A (fr)
EP (1) EP0576388B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2093363C (fr)
DE (1) DE69303553T2 (fr)
MX (1) MX9303786A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0613158A2 (fr) * 1993-02-26 1994-08-31 Emerson Electric Co. Dispositif d'interrupteur à pédale, actioné par un levier

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5534672A (en) * 1995-02-06 1996-07-09 Emerson Electric Co. Multiple plunger pedal switch assembly
US5841086A (en) * 1997-02-03 1998-11-24 Emerson Electric Co. Brake master cylinder and brakelamp switch assembly
US5929407A (en) * 1998-02-19 1999-07-27 Eaton Corporation Plunger actuated switch with single adjustment features
DE10024921A1 (de) * 2000-05-19 2001-11-22 Asg Luftfahrttechnik Und Senso Pedalweggebereinheit
US6953904B1 (en) * 2004-09-30 2005-10-11 Emerson Electric Co. Pedal actuated switch assembly
US7247805B2 (en) * 2005-08-10 2007-07-24 Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Llc Switch actuation method and mechanism
EP2180486A1 (fr) * 2008-10-27 2010-04-28 Abb Research Ltd. Dispositif de commutation et appareillage doté de celui-ci
DE102017129515A1 (de) * 2017-12-12 2019-06-13 Johnson Electric Germany GmbH & Co. KG Elektrischer Schalter

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2813240A (en) * 1954-05-04 1957-11-12 Emmanuel Kaye Electric motor regulating apparatus
CH470742A (de) * 1967-06-23 1969-03-31 Nordhausen Veb Fernmeldewerk Anordnung mit mindestens einem Kontaktfedersatz, zum Einsetzen in eine Platte mit gedruckter Leitungsführung
DE2258048A1 (de) * 1972-11-27 1974-05-30 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Kontaktfedersatz
FR2250191A1 (fr) * 1973-11-05 1975-05-30 Amp Inc

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3651297A (en) * 1968-12-16 1972-03-21 Compac Engineering Inc Switch with housing of sealed rigid and thermal plastic members
US3727015A (en) * 1971-04-12 1973-04-10 Mallory & Co Inc P R Cam operated program timer assembly with replaceable leaf spring contact structure
US3886953A (en) * 1974-05-09 1975-06-03 John W Pope Electronic smoking inhibiting device
US4719444A (en) * 1984-03-16 1988-01-12 Automotive Products Plc Hydraulic master cylinder switch
US4878041A (en) * 1984-03-16 1989-10-31 Automotive Products Plc Hydraulic master cylinder switch
US4911276A (en) * 1984-03-16 1990-03-27 Automotive Products Plc Method of motor vehicle assembly
US4742193A (en) * 1987-01-14 1988-05-03 Automotive Products Plc Retaining device for hydraulic master cylinder switch
US5162625A (en) * 1991-01-22 1992-11-10 Eaton Corporation Switch assembly

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2813240A (en) * 1954-05-04 1957-11-12 Emmanuel Kaye Electric motor regulating apparatus
CH470742A (de) * 1967-06-23 1969-03-31 Nordhausen Veb Fernmeldewerk Anordnung mit mindestens einem Kontaktfedersatz, zum Einsetzen in eine Platte mit gedruckter Leitungsführung
DE2258048A1 (de) * 1972-11-27 1974-05-30 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Kontaktfedersatz
FR2250191A1 (fr) * 1973-11-05 1975-05-30 Amp Inc

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0613158A2 (fr) * 1993-02-26 1994-08-31 Emerson Electric Co. Dispositif d'interrupteur à pédale, actioné par un levier
EP0613158A3 (fr) * 1993-02-26 1995-05-03 Emerson Electric Co Dispositif d'interrupteur à pédale, actioné par un levier.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2093363A1 (fr) 1993-12-25
MX9303786A (es) 1994-05-31
EP0576388B1 (fr) 1996-07-10
DE69303553T2 (de) 1996-11-21
CA2093363C (fr) 1996-11-26
US5241144A (en) 1993-08-31
DE69303553D1 (de) 1996-08-14

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